Flexible rod driver



Jan 25, 1949- L. w. scHoENslEGEL v2,460,149

FLEXIBLE ROD DRIVER 2 Shec'acs-Sheel l Filed July 26, 1946 FLEXIBLE ROD DRIVER .2 Sheets-Shee 2 Filed July 26, 1946 wim .WKN/mm1 Patented Jan. 25, 1949 UNITE-D STATES ATEINT QF F ICE FLEXIBLE ROD @DRIVER Lothar .SchoensiegeL -Ghcago, lll. f

A-Appiication July '26, 1946, Serial No. "686,583 .nomme (ci. rrfi- 4214 This vinvention relates to roddrivers,:and more particularly to a driver having afdriving .motor torotate the rod, as a'eirible trod :of Ithe type used Ifor cleaning out zpipes.

One feature :of thi-s invention fis Athat it provides an 'improved :rod driver; another :feature of this invention is that :it provides a lflexible 'rod driver Yallowing straight extension of the rod Ithrough lthe 'rod driver .and .on both sides of *.the roel driver, withnobendingior kinlsing ofthe rod; -a'iurther feature vof this invention .fis 4that it rprovid-es :a 'ilexible .rod `olriver .adapted ,to .include means ifor reducing the .speed lof rotation of `the rod relative tcthespeed fof-.the .drivefmeang yet another Ifeature :of this :invention is that it provides a rod .driver havingremovable rod gripping rneans; still a further Lffeature of this invention 'is @that :provides :a :flexible Irod driver having `quick .acting rod gripping means adapted 'to :grip vand release the lrod being idriven zwithout the .operator stopping ith-e driving motor; fstill .another 'feature of :this invention `is .thatrit ,provides va rod .driver having latch means for releasably locking the rod gripping means. Qther features vand fad- .vantages of athis :invention will be apparent `from the :following snecicati'on ,and :the fdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 iis :elevation tof .a xrod 4driver constructed in :accordance vwith myi'invcntion, Show.- ATing said rod driver Ein operation; ,Figure 2 4is a sectional view loi therod .driven taken lon the line 2 2 of Figure 1, with the flexible yrod removed; Figure 3 Aiis Va vertical .section .on'the dine13-3 of Figure v2; fFig-ure '4 is .la :vertical l'section on 'the 'line :w-4 'of eCiligure 2 :and Fgurer5 is .a vertical fseeti on on the line 5-5 :of -lFigure '2.

"Prior to my `r'invention electric vrod .fdrivers used for .the purpose 4of ldriving .a flexible Arod into a sewer, ftirain zpipe, or other enclosure in order to `clean .or remove :obstructions rtherefrom comprised ldevices.similar :to the .conventional electric drill 4A adevice Aof .this -type has several disadvantages :preventing .its eicient 'operati-Qn inaeleaning .fsuch'sa fsevver :oridrain xpipe. 'For example, in fsuch a device the `lexible"rodxwhielfnis ,used .for :cleaning vthe:sewer er-draimpipe is `Llcrimght .into the -driver casing through :the :side .or :bottom of the device, iis :turned iat Vapproxiniately nright angles, .and :is .throught .out through -,the rfront end of the teasing. Such raeonstruotion .has been heretofore thought :necessary tin order to lering the rod into operable :relation -vi-th the drive :motor Whichi-s located `in the Vdriver :casing .and .isutiIi-Zed to rotate the rod. Qhviously suc-h .la .constructionis disadvantageous, im" .fat vleast Va Aportion lof the rod )immediately behind .therpointof entry into rlthe ycasing is clisposed 'transverse to .the `direction .of :rotation of the drive motor, and :consequently the :portion of 'the `rod behind l'the rod -driver will .-thresh and whip fabout.

lln'operationgasthelroii advancesinto lthe sewer or drain :pipe-it iis necessaryzperiodically torelease the :grip fof the rod iiriverlon the zrozd .and itc move the .rod forward-through the trod `driver in `order to obtain a :new grip farther back on 'the `roel. Another disadvantage 'to the -eicient use :of Isuch a Aroddriver has .been that :each :time before .such periodic :action takes place :it has fbeen 'necessary :to stop )the drive motor, l.with :a nonsequent loss `of time Whilewa'iting fior stheymotor to fslOW down fand stop, .anti yanotl'reriloss of timervvhle lwaiting for the motor to :gain speed :after the new grip hasbeen otit'ainedfand :the motor has :been started again.

I .have Edevised :and fam :here `disclosing an im- :proved rod iriver 'which overcomes (these and other disadvantages :inherent 'in prior rod drivers. *My improved 'rod driver iis :so con'structed `that 'the frodbeing driven textens straight through the drliver casing 'andstraight :out :in f-rcnt and 'behind the clriver casing, thus le'lilflfiinatir-ig all twists, turns, for kinks in ithe roel, and Idoing away with threshing Vand Whipping 'of the rod Aloehincl the trod driver. .My new :rod driver also incorporates novel :releasable roid Vgripping `means comprising a quick )acting v'chuck which may lbe simply and efcientlyaoperatedto release vthe rod so that the Iroddriver casing can be moved :forward or Vback- :wardfon the rodeando, new gripobtainemal-l without stopping A-the 'dri-ve motor. Consequently the operator using :xn-v new driver saves `a great .deal -of time -as thelrod'is ladvanced into .thefsewer .or .drain pipe, for `when it vis `desired .to .obtain .anew grip at a different place on the rod, `the .operator r-nierelv-marnntlly.operatesa lever to -ree the rod, Amoves .the `-rocihdriver -to the new position .on the zrod, and operates :the lever vhack .to its .rs't ,posiltion to obtain .a new :grip .on .the rod. The drive motor need never `be .turned off during the .entire cleaning operation.

In addi-tion, my .invention :incorporates .a removable .chuck which .may he .readily taken off ,of .the casing, allowing the .substitution of a conventional chuck, as .for example a Jacobs drill chuck, .and .the rod ldriver `may then vbe used .as a drill 'or .other rotator.

Referring now .to the drawings., my improved 4rod driver is shown .as comprising a casing I@ having ventilatingholes or ,slots .I 'I Tanni la .supporting handle A2 which is here shown as being a pistol type handle with a conventional spring biased so-called dead man type on-off switch I3 for the drive motor. Also extending from the casing behind the handle I2 is the conventional reversing switch I4 for the drive motor. The opening I5 is for a conventional line cord (not shown) for supplying power to the motor.

The casing has two oppositely placed openings I6 and I1 therein, one at each end of the casing, for receiving the rod to be driven. Such -rod may comprise a conventional double coiled flexible shaft as is shown at I8 in Figure 1, and extends straight through the casing by means of the 0P- positely disposed openings I6 and I1, and straight out behind the casing. The conventional cutting tool or cutting head I9 of the rod is shown in operative position as extending into a sewer or drain pipe 20.

Within the casing is Athe rod guiding means' -comprising the tubularshaft 2I rotatably mounted in axial alignment with the oppositely placed openings I6 and I1, and adapted t-o receive and guide the rod straight through the casing without any bending yor twisting. The shaft is mounted in bearings 2Ia and 2lb, and at its -leit hand i;

end (in Figure 2) the shaft extends through the opening I6 and terminates in an enlarged porti-on 22 externally threaded at 23 for the reception of the removable chuck, as will be hereafter explained. Mounted coaxially with the shaft 2I is the drive motor which may be an A. C.-D. C. reversible motor comprising the eld coil 24 and `the armature 25, and having a hollow drive shaft 2E which surrounds a portion of the tubular rod guiding shaft 2| and is coaxial therewith, but is not directly fixed thereto and is rotatable in the bearings 21 and 28.

Since the speed of rotation of the motor is much greater than the desired speed lof rotation of the flexible rod I8, the rod driver incorporates:A

speed reducing means comprising a balanced gear reduction drive. The pinion 29 is xedly mounted on the drive shaft 26, and on opposite sides of the drive shaft said pinion meshes with the gears 30 and 3I. Gear 38 is keyed to the shaft 32 which is adapted to rotate in bearings 32a and 32b and has xedly mounted thereon the pinion 33 which in turn meshes with and drives the gear 34 which is keyed to the tubular shaft 2| at 35. Similarly the gear 3I is keyed to the shaft 36 which is rotatable in bearings 35a and 36h and fixedly carries the pinion 31 which meshes With the gear 34 at a point opposite from the pinion 33, and assists in driving the shaft 2| in such manner that the drive strain is equally distributed on opposite sides of said shaft. In the rod driver illustrated in the drawings, access may be had to the speed reducing means for greasing or repair by removing the studs 31a.

The chuck, which is indicated generally at 38 in Figure 1, is adapted to be removably mounted on the enlarged portion 22 of the tubular shaft 2l for rotation with said shaft, by means of the 4 44 within the bore in order to obtain a better grip on the rod I8. A circular spring wire 45 passes through an opening in each gripping member and constantly urges the gripping members outward. The outer end or surface of each gripping member is beveled as shown at 4B and cooperates with the beveled surface of the slidably mounted prestot internally threaded portion at the end of the chuck body member 39, the threads of which cooperate with 'the threads 23, and by means of the set screw 40. The chuck includes a bore 4I adapted to slidably receive the rod I8, said bore being coaxial with the tubular shaft 2| through-- out the entire length of the chuck from the threaded portion 39 to the nose piece 42. Extending within the bore intermediate its ends are the rod gripping means or chuck jaws comprising the three rod gripping members 43a, 43h, and 43e, each having an undulating or wavy surface -into the pipe as it rotates.

sure member 41 in such manner that if the pressure member 41 is thrust forward (to lthe left in Figures 1 and 2), the gripping members 43a, 43h, and 43o move inwardly into the bore 4I, andthe undulating surfaces 44 obtain a firm grip on the rod I8 so that said rod rotates with the tubular shaft 2|. If the pressure member 41 is moved backward, the spring 45 urges the members 43a, 43h and 43e outwardly away from the rod I8, and the rod is no longer bound to the tubular shaft 2l and `no longer rotates with said shaft. As shown best in Figures 2 and 4, the gripping members 43a, 4317, and 43C' are held in place by the nose piece 42 which is keyed to the member 39 by means of the taper pin 42a.

The apparatus for sliding the member 41 forward and backward consists of a coupling and lever arrangement comprising the ring member 48 rotatably mounted on ball bearings 49 in an annular groove 58 in the pressure member 41, the link members 5I each pivotally mounted at the forward end on opposite sides of the ring 48 by the studs 52 and each pivoted at the rear end on a branch of the biforked L-shaped operating lever 53. The branches of the biforked operating lever 53 are eccentrically pivoted on opposite sides of the casing byl the studs 54, and the free end of such lever is formed into a handle 55 adapted to be grasped by the operator.

The apparatus for operating the gripping means inmy improved rod driver is completed by a latch arrangement for releasably holding the lever member 53 in any desired position, such latch arrangement comprising the toothed arm 56 pivotally mounted on a bracket 51 attached to the casing I8 and urged toward the handle 55 of the lever 53`by a spring 58. The latching mechanism comprises the latch member 59 adapted to cooperate with the teeth of the arm 58 and operated through Ithe rod and the lever comprising the link GI and the trigger member 62. If desired, a spring may be inserted in the handle to hold the latch member 59 in engagement with the teeth on the arm 56 except when the trigger member 62 is pressed.

It will be seen that if the operator of the rod driver pulls the handle 55 to the right after releasing the latch (speaking with respect to the position of the parts as reviewed in Figure 1), the biforked lever 53 will pivot about the studs 54, and since the lever is eccentrically mounted, the link 5I will move forward or to the left.` This movement is transmitted through the ring 48 to the pressure member 41, and the gripping members 45a, 43h, and 43o are caused to move into the bore 4I and grip the rod I8. Since the grip ping members are connected through the chuck body member 39 to the tubular shaft 2 I, the rod I8 Will now rotate with the tubular shaft when the motor is running, the operator pushing forward to provide a force tending to move the rod As the rod I8 advances into the pipe 28 it Will become necessary to slide the rod driver back on the rod I8. In order to accomplish this it is not necessary, as it has been heretofore, for the operator to turn the motor off, for if the operator pushes the handle 55 forward or to the left, the pressure member 4l will move backward, thus freeing the gripping members, which will be urged outwardly by the spring 45, and will release the rod. The rod will now cease rotating, and will be slidable in the tubular shaft 2l and the chuck 38, and the rod driver may be moved back to a new position on the rod and a new grip on the rod obtained, whereupon the rod would again be rotated by the motor and pushed forward by the operator. In operating my improved rod driver, the operator is not subjected to the inconvenience and danger heretofore present in rod drivers, because the rod extends straight through my newV rod driver and straight back therefrom, and therod does not whip and thresh as it is rotated.

While I have illustrated and described certain modiiications oi my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In rod driving apparatus having rotatable rod guiding means and drive means for rotating said rod guiding means, lever operated apparatus of the character described for selectively gripping and releasing the rod to be driven, such lever operated apparatus including gripping means rotatable with said rod guiding means an operating device comprising a pivotally mounted member, and coupling means including at least one link eccentrically pivoted on said operating device and connecting said operating device with said gripping apparatus.

2. Flexible rod driving apparatus of the character described, including: a casing having oppositely placed openings therein for receiving the rod to be driven; a longitudinally straight rotatable tubular member axially aligned with said openings and adapted slidably to receive the rod to be driven; a reversible motor for rotating said tubular member, said motor having a hollow drive shaft surrounding at least a portion of said tubular member and coaxial therewith; speed reducing means operatively connecting the drive shaft with the tubular member; gripping apparatus including a plurality of lever operated, slidably movable jaws rotatable with said tubular member for selectively gripping and releasing the rod to be driven and a latch for releasably locking said jaws in desired positions.

3. In a rod driver having a casing, rod guiding means, and rotatable drive means, apparatus of the character described, including: rod gripping means comprising movable jaws rotatable with said drive means; means for causing said jaws selectively to grip and release the. rod to be driven, such means comprising a lever operating member eccentrically pivoted on said casing and a link pivoted on said lever member and operatively connecting said lever member with said gripping means; and latch means for releasably locking said lever member, said latch means including a pivotally mounted member adapted to engage said lever member.

4. In a rod driver having rod guiding means adapted to have a conventional chuck mounted thereon, and having rotatable drive means, apparatus of the character described, including: gripping apparatus including at least one slidable pressure member', at least a portion of said apparatus being rotatable with said drive means and said gripping apparatus being mounted on said guiding means in a manner permitting its ready removal therefrom; lever means for causing said gripping member selectively to grip and release the rod to be driven; and means for readily removably connecting said lever means to said slidable pressure member.

5. In a rod driver having rod guiding means and rotatable drive means, apparatus of the character described, including: gripping apparatus rotatable with said drive means, said gripping apparatus comprising a body member threadably mounted on said guiding means, at least one gripping member carried by said body member, and a pressure member slidably mounted on said body member; coupling means having an external anti-friction connection directly to said pressure member; lever means for causing said gripping means selectively to grip and release the rod, said lever means being pivotally mounted on said guiding means and being detachably connected to said coupling means to permit ready removal of said gripping means from said guiding means; and latch means for releasably locking said lever means.

LOTHAR W. SCHOENSIEGEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are'of record in the Iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

